Machine for shaping ribs on piano sounding-boards.



J. A. HART.

MACHINE FOR SHAPING RIBS 0N PIANO SOUNDING BOARDS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-20. 19H.

Patented July 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. A. HART.

MACHINE FOR SHAPING RIBS 0N PIANO SOUNDING BOARDS. APPLICATION FILEDNov. 20. 1914.

1,1 89,253. Patented July 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I A. HART. MACHINE FOR SHAPING RIBS 0N PIANO SOUNDING BOARDS.

APPLICATION FILED, NOV- 20 1914.

1 ,1 89,253 i Patented July 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E uonms puns 07.. imam-urns" wunmmmv. o. c

UNITED STATES PAENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. HART, 0F LAPORTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOBART M. CABLECOMPANY, OF LAPORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR SHAPINGv RIBS ON PIANO SOUNDING-BOARDS.

Application filed November 20, 1914.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES A. HART, a citizenof the United States, residing at La. porte, in the county of Laporteand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Machines for Shaping Ribs on Piano Sounding-Boards, of which thefollowing is a specification.

- The object of this invention is to provide a machine of simple'andinexpensive construction which can be easily operated for rapidlyand'uniformly shaping the ribs on piano sounding boards.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter with guiding and adjusting devices of simple constructionwhich will insure the uniform shaping of the ribs of piano soundingboards regardless of any inequalities that may exist in the soundingboard or the ribs where the ribs are shaped.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention Figure 1 is anelevation illustrating the invention as used in actual operation; Fig. 2illustrates a section of a sounding board showing the ribs properlyshaped; Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the cutter mechanismshowing the supporting arms in section; Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevationof the table showing the sounding board and cutting mechanism insection. V

Referring to the drawings, 5 is a cutter head of any suitableconstruction mounted upon a horizontal shaft 6 and carrying a pluralityof cutting blades 7 adapted to be adjusted on the head in an approvedmanner. This shaft is mounted in bearings 8 on a supporting plate 9which is suspended by suitable arms 10 from the ceiling 11. The shaft isdriven in any suitable manner as by belt connection with a motor 12secured to the ceiling.

The work is supported on a movable table comprising a frame 13 mountedon rollers 14 to travel on guide rails 15 to carry the work to and fromthe cutter head. This table is provided with a bed or top member 16which is yieldingly supported by a plurality of springs 17 and is heldin place on the frame by links 18 having pin and slot connection at 19with the frame.

In practice the sounding board 20 is arranged on the table so that oneof the ribs 21 thereon will be presented endwise to the Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Serial No. 873,126.

cutter and the table is pushed along until the cutter has cut down therib, as shown in Fig. 2, the length of out being regulated by a stop22'which is adjustably mounted on the supporting plate Sand arranged inthe path of movement of the sounding board. The depth of out isregulated-by a pair of rollers 23 mounted on the shaft 6 at oppositeends of the cutter head and arranged to engage the sounding board onopposite sides of the rib being shaped. These rollers regulate the depthof out which may be varied as desired by adjusting the cutting blades onthe cutter head. When once adjusted the blades will cut the ribsuniformly regardless of any variations in the height of the ribs abovethe sounding board or in the thickness of the sounding board, and theyielding bed on which the sounding board rests provides for variationsin the thickness of the sounding board.

It will readily be observed that my machine is very simple inconstruction and easy to operate and that it provides for the uniformshaping of the ribs on a sounding board. This is of great importancebecause it is highly desirable to have the scarfed ends of the ribs ofuniform size to provide for the desired tone and it is for this reasonthat the rollers regulate the cut so that, regardless of the height ofthe rib, the scarfed ends will always be of uniform height above theboard.

I claim:

1. In a machine for shaping the ribs on piano sounding boards, thecombination of a stationary revolvingcutter, a table for carrying thework to the cutter comprising a bodily movable frame having a bedyieldingly mounted thereon to receive the work, and means associatedwith the cutter and adapted to engage the sounding board on oppositesides of a rib for regulating the cut to insure uniform shaping of theribs.

2. In a machine for shaping the ribs on piano sounding boards, thecombination of a stationary revolving cutter, a table for carrying thework to the cutter comprising a bodily movable frame and a bedyieldingly supported thereon to receive the work, and rollers mountedconcentrically with the axis of the cutter to engage the sounding boardon opposite sides of a rib to insure uniform shaping of the ribs.

3. In a machine for shaping the ribs on piano sounding boards, thecombination of a suspended supporting plate, a shaft journaled inbearings on said plate, a cutter mounted on said shaft, a movable tablefor carrying the Work to the cutter, said tableing the cut to insureuniform shaping of the ribs, and a stop on the supporting plate forlimiting the length of cut.

5. In a machine for shaping the ribs on piano sounding boards, thecombination of a suspended supporting plate, a shaft journaled inbearings on said plate, a cutter mounted on said shaft, a movable tablefor carrying the Work to the cutter, said table comprising a frame and arelatively movable bed to receive the Work, springs supporting the bedto-enable it to yield as required, links connecting the bed to theframe, rollers mounted on the shaft concentrically With the axis of'thecutter to engage the board on opposite sides of the rib being operatedupon by the cutter, a stop on the plate for limiting the length of cut,and means for operating said shaft.

, JAMES A. HART.

Witnesses:

H. V. MOLAUGHLIN, EDWIN W. SOI-IURZ.

some; of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Intent. Washington. D. G.

